Slider operated zip fasteners

ABSTRACT

IMPROVEMENTS ARE PROVIDED IN SLIDER-OPERATED ZIP FASTENERS FOR PREVENTING THE FASTENER ELEMENTS FROM MOVING OUT OF THEIR PROPER POSITION ON STRINGER TAPES. ALTERNATE RIDGES AND GROOVES ARE FORMED IN THE ELEMENTS, WHICH RIDGES AND GROOVES ARE INTERENGAGEABLE WITH CORRESPONDING GROOVES AND RIDGES FORMED IN THE EDGES OF THE STRINGER TAPES ALONG WHICH THE ELEMENTS ARE MOUNTED, THEREBY ELIMINATING THE TENDENCY OF THE ELEMENTS BECOMING LATERALLY DISPLACED.

United States Patent [191 Takamatsu June 28, 1974 [54] SLlDER-OPERATED ZIP FASTENERS 3,714,683 2/1973 Frolich et al 24/205.l6 C

[75] Inventor: Ikuo Takamatsu, Uozu, Japan FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, l.128,413 9/1968 Great Britain 24/2051 C Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed: June 15 1972 Primary ExaminerBobby R. Gay

Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette PP 263,099 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 17. 197] Japan 46-51808 [57] ABSTRACT June 17, l97l Japan 46-5l809 Improvements are provided in slider-operated zip fas- [52] Us (124/2051 C ZAP/20513 C 24/205 l6 C teners for preventing the fastener elements from mov- 66/195 ing out of their proper position on stringer tapes. Al- 511 Int. Cl A44b 19/02 m liidges and gmves are fOKmCd in elements [58] Field of Search24/205 1 C 205'16C, 20516 R WhlCh ridges and grooves are mterengageable with 24/205 13 C corresponding grooves and ridges formed in the edges of the stringer tapes along which the elements are [56] References Cited mounted, thereby eliminating the tendency of the ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS ments becoming laterally displaced.

' 2.056356 l0/l936 Hora 24/205.16 R 6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures V i i I ii PATENTEmuuzs I974 3320.202 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEDJUN28 IBM $820,202

sum 2 BF 2 1 SLIDER-OPERATED ZIP FASTENERS This invention relates to improvements in slideroperated slide fasterners and more particularly in zip fasteners comprised of a pair of stringer tapes having sewn along their respective edges a multiplicity of successive or continuous inter-engaging fastener elements.

Known slide fasteners of the type described have experienced difficulties in that the fastener elements tend to move laterally out of the proper position under severe stresses, i.e. shear forces, exerted by a reciprocating slider and become displaced from normal aligned, parallel positions on the respective stringer tapes upon repeated slider operations, with the result that the fastener elements fail to couple together smoothly, their chain often breaks off and the slider becomes inoperative.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved slide fasteners which will overcome the abovenoted difficulties.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide slide fasteners having mounted thereon inter-engaging rows of fastener elements in such a manner that the elements can retain positional stability against lateral displacement under any stresses, so that the fasters have prolonged service life.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear clear from the following description taken in connection with certain preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a slide fastener embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, transverse cross-sectional view of one-half part of the fastener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a modifled embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a transverse crosssectional view of another modified embodiment;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse cross-sectional views of further embodiments as applied to a concealed type slide fastener;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a knitted tape employed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a further modification of slide fasteners according to the invention; 1

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a concealed slide fastener to which the principles of the invention are applied; and

FIGS. 10a through l0e, inclusive are transverse cross-sectional views of the various tapes employed in accordance with the invention.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an improvement which comprises the provision of alternate ridges and grooves in each tape stringer, said alternate ridges and grooves extending longitudinally of and at least along the one edge portion of said tape at which inter-engaging elements are mounted, and the provision of corresponding ridges and grooves in said elements for interlocking engagement with the grooves and ridges respectively, of said tape, whereby the elements are securely held in place by sewing threads against lateral displacement.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, there are shown various preferred forms of inter-engaging or coupling elements 10 and stringer tapes 11 for mounting the elements 10 along their one longitudinal edges 12. Designated by the reference symbol S is a stiffening cord inserted through a row of elements 10 to reinforce the same. A stringer tape 11 may be of a warp-knitted structure such as shown in FIG. 7, wherein the tape 11 comprises a one/one tricot indicated by chain-dot line 20, a weft thread indicated by dotted line 21 and inserted every four needles, a chain stitch indicated by solid line 22 and an open pillar stitch indicated by 23 and allocated at an edge portion 12 along which the elements 10 are to be secured.

Importantly, the stringer tape 1 1 is provided with longitudinally extending alternate preformed ridges 13 and grooves 14 for interlocking engagement with corresponding ridges 13 and grooves 14 formed in one of the two arms 15, 15' of each element 10. This ridgeand-groove arrangement insures that the elements 10 when secured in place as later described retain positional stabilityagainst displacement particularly in the lateral direction under the influence of severe stresses imposed by repeated reciprocal movements of a sliding member, not shown.

The fastener element 10 is also provided in the other arm portion 15 thereof with a recess 16 for receiving therein sewing threads on thread loops 17 which secure the elements to the tape, in a manner that the threads are protected against direct contact with the slider and hence are free from frictional wear.

In the embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the elements 10 are secured to the edges 12 of opposed stringer tapes 11 by means of sewing threads on thread loops 17 in the form of double locked stitches running in registry with the interlocked corresponding ridges and grooves of tape 11 and element 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the elements 10 are secured to the tape 11 by means of combination double locked stitches and overedge stitches. Alternatively, the elements 10 may be secured by flat seam stitches as shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are presented to illustrate that the principles of the invention can be equally applied to concealed type zip fasteners in which the edge 12 of the tape 1 l is folded in the usual manner with its preformed ridges l3 and grooves 14 engaged with corresponding ridges l3 and grooves 14' in the upper arm 15 of the element 10.

According to another important aspect of the invention, and with reference to FIGS. 8-10, the ridges l3 and grooves 14 are provided in both faces of the tape 11 at least along the edge portion 12 thereof, the arrangement being that the thread loops 17 exposed at the lower portion of the element 10, more precisely beneath the reverse face of the tape 11, are embedded in the grooves or valleys 14 of the tape 11 so that the threads 17 are protected against direct contact with the slider.

Illustrated in FIGS. 10a 10c are the various forms of stringer tape 1 1 that may be employed in accordance with the invention.

The tape 11 in FIG. 10a is a warp-knitted fabric having one edge folded back on itself to form an elementcarrying edge 12 with ridges l3 and grooves 14 in both faces of the tape.

The tape 11 in FIG. 10b is similarly warp-knitted and comprised of two such layers bonded back to back that there are provided alternate ridges and grooves on both faces.

FIG. c shows a tape which has along its edge portion ridges l3 and grooves 14 formed by rib weave.

The ridges 13 and grooves 14 may be formed by strips of a plasticfilm as shown in FIG. 10d, or by a suitable cord as shown in FIG. 10e.

It will be understood that further changes and modifications may be made in the fastener structures described herein above, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slide fastener comprising, a pair of opposed stringer tapes each carrying along their respective opposed longitudinal edges a multiplicity of successive coupling elements each having a pair of opposed arms one of which is for engaging a corresponding stringer tape, and a slider operative to close and open the fastener, the improvement which comprises means for bearing shear forces developed between said elements and the stringer tapes comprising preformed alternate ridges and grooves in each tape stringer said preformed alternate ridges and grooves extending longitudinally of and at least along the one edge portion of said tape at which coupling elements are mounted, and said one arm of each coupling element having corresponding ridges and grooves for interlocking engagement with the corresponding grooves and ridges respectively of said tape, thread loops circumferentially of the two arms of the coupling elements securely holding said elements in place whereby the ridges and grooves hold the coupling elements against lateral displacement.

2, A slide fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein said stringer tape is provided with said ridges and grooves at both faces thereof, whereby said thread loops underlying said elements are held free from contact with the slider.

3. A slide fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein there is provided a recess in the other arm of said element for receiving said thread loops.

4. A slide fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said coupling elements is reinforced with a stiffening cord.

5. A slide fastener as defined in claim 3 wherein said recess is sufficiently wide to receive a plurality of said thread loops disposed adjacent each other in said recess.

6. A slide fastener opened and closed by a slider comprising, a pair of opposed stringer tapes provided with preformed alternate ridges and grooves disposed along and parallel to opposed longitudinal edges thereof, a plurality of coupling elements disposed along said opposed longitudinal edges of said stringer tapes, said coupling elements comprising two opposed arms with alternate ridges and grooves provided on one arm engaging with said preformed ridgesand grooves of said stringer tapes for maintaining relative positions between said coupling elements and said stringer tapes, and thread loops securing said coupling elements to said stringer tapes. 

